Accreditation FAQ

To apply for accreditation with the IACP an applicant must have qualified as a Counsellor/Psychotherapist and have at least 450 hours of supervised client contact hours post-training. The IACP requirements for both the core course and supervision must be met for successful accreditation. For full details see the First Time Accreditation page.

No. All applications for accreditation go through the same application process and must meet the same requirements. See the Overview page for a diagram of progression through the membership categories and the First Time Accreditation page for full details of the requirements.

Yes. You will be required to provide additional documentation from your course to prove that the course you completed meets IACP Core Course criteria. For a detailed list of core-course criteria see the First Time Accreditation page.

No, as of November 2016, you do not need to be a Member before you can apply for IACP accreditation. 

No, you may count the training and practice you did as a non-member. See the Overview page for a diagram of progression through the membership categories.

Processing an application can take up to three months. Only fully completed applications are assessed by the Accreditation Secretary and the Accreditation Committee if necessary. Once approved, the Complaints Committee screens all applications.

Subject to Complaints, clearance recommendations for accreditation are then sent to the Executive Committee for ratification. Following ratification, a letter of notification and a certificate of accreditation is sent to the successful Member. Applicants cannot be notified of the decision on their application until the Executive Committee has ratified it.

If an application is not complete or additional information is required, then the processing time may be longer. At certain times of the year, or if the volume of applications is high, it may take longer for your application to be processed.

N.B. Incomplete applications will be rejected.

For Pre-Accredited and Accredited Members, Supervision must take place a minimum of once a month when the therapist actively sees or available to see clients. This requirement is applicable whether a therapist has clients are not.